Breaking News

Served Mass Retirees Association for Thirty Years

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Geraldine White, following a short illness. Geri, as her family and friends knew her, was married to Association founder and former President Ralph White for over 60 years. Together, Ralph and Geri had four children, seven grandchildren and one great granddaughter.

Kicks Off Annual Insurance Open Enrollment

APRIL 6, 2016: Today begins the month-long open enrollment period for the state’s Group Insurance Commission (GIC). Retirees and employees insured by the GIC now have until May 4, 2016 to make changes to their health insurance coverage or join the retiree dental insurance plan.

MARCH 25, 2016: On Tuesday of this week the House Subcommittee on Social Security held a special hearing on H.R. 711: Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act.

Association President Frank Valeri and Legislative Director Shawn Duhamel were present at the hearing and also met with key Congressional leaders from both parties, as well as Ways and Means Committee staff.

Mass Retirees Plays Central Role

MARCH 16, 2016: In a major step toward resolving a complex problem we have fought to resolve for more than thirty years, the US House of Representatives will hold a hearing on H.R. 711, known as the Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act. H.R. 711 reforms the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) to create a more accurate and fair accounting of credit earned under Social Security.

Major Step Toward Congressional Action

MARCH 12, 2015: In a major step toward reforming the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) has endorsed HR711 and urged Congress to take action during the 2016 Session.

The support comes on the heels of a meeting with the 38 million-member strong AARP that was led by the Retired Texas Teachers and Mass Retirees. AARP’s policy committee then put their stamp of approval on the proposal early this week.

OME Prices Drop -7.2%

MARCH 4, 2016: Retirees who are enrolled in the state Group Insurance Commission’s (GIC) Option Medicare Extension (OME) plan received very good news this week – health insurance rates for FY17 will decrease by 7.2%.

Last year, OME enrollees experienced an increase of 6.5%. Two years ago, the same rates decreased 0.4%.

In addition, the GIC has voted to maintain the same copayments and deductibles that have been in effect for the past year, without any increase.

Obama Reignites GPO Debate

MARCH 1, 2016: Association officials joined our Texas counterparts on Monday for a series of meetings in Washington DC aimed at consolidating support for the passage legislation reforming the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP).

New Meeting Locations in Largo & Ft. Myers Beach

FEBRUARY 24, 2016: The Association will be on Florida’s Gulf Coast during the week of March 1st for two membership meetings. For longtime members, please note that our meeting location has changed. We will no longer meet in St. Pete, but rather at a new location in Largo, FL.

Members can expect to hear updates on the Social Security Windfall and Offset laws, retiree health insurance, life insurance, veterans benefits and a host of other legislative initiatives.

13 Locations Across The State Thru April

February 12, 2016: Today the Group Insurance Commission announced the schedule for the 2016 Health Fairs. This is an annual practice that the GIC conducts during its open enrollment which this year runs from April 6th to May 4th.

DECEMBER 21, 2015: At the close of the state Group Insurance Commission’s December meeting, Executive Director Dolores Mitchell stunned the crowded meeting by announcing her retirement. After leading the GIC for nearly 29 years, Mitchell will retire in 2016.

The fifteen-member Commission that governs the GIC will now begin the process of hiring a new executive director.

Since 1968 the Retired State, County and Municipal Employees Association has been the leading voice for Massachusetts public retirees and their families. Join with our 62,000 members as we continue the fight.